The enterprising tipster who sent us the image of a Verizon Pre 3 has one more device to show you: the above device that by all appearances is a webOS device without a keyboard. Our best guess is that it has a screen resolution of 480x800. There also appears to be a front-facing camera, although it could simply be a proximity sensor.

While we are quite confident that the image is legit, unfortunately we don't have a lot of confidence in any further information. Is the device coming or is it simply a prototype that has been canned? Our tipster described it as "an EVO with webOS" and suggests it simply has yet to be announced. After the break we have another version of the image in which we cropped over a Pre 3 from the same photo to give a better sense of scale.

One of those lost webOS users here too. Love the OS. Love the openness. Love the community and the homebrew scene. Unfortunately, if the hardware isn't on Sprint, I've gotta move on. Everyone always hates on Android, but I've played with the phones. If it can do what I need, I know I'll get used to it. The hardware is there. Just need a push.
Speaking of hardware, doesn't that phone look to have a pretty big crack in the upper right corner of the screen? A leak of a damaged device does not impress me much.

yup and being that the EVO 3D and Galaxy s 2 are coming to Sprint, it's not like we wont have some great options... i am very intrigued by the GS2. it is very light and thin for its size and the new touch wiz UI looks awwwesome. i will still give the pre 3 good look, but my phone is in really bad shape and i will get the next super phone that is released on Sprint. (minus the Echo of course)

I am looking to buy two next gen WebOS devices for my Wife and I off Contract. But if its not on Sprint, I won't do it. With our discount, sprint had us at hello. Love the OS, et al.
I've carried Android before and it's not bad, it just isn't WebOS...

I'm not a big fan of onscreen keyboards. (Is there any chance of integrating PalmOS' old Graffiti system as an alternative to the keyboard? Palm and therefore HP have the rights to it under their PalmOS license.) But it's great to see HP expanding the available form factors for its devices.

Assuming that's a Pre 3 in the picture next to that phone, it might actually have a slightly larger screen than the Pre 3.

THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED. thank you holy cephalopods! omg if we can please get a confirmation that this isn't a canned prototype i'm willing to hold onto my august upgrade until this makes its glorious appearance. Hopefully on att :P

Altho i must say i have a feeling this will end up on sprint, since att is getting the pre3 :/

It's not about what you want. WebOS fans should want what's best for HP no matter what you personally think of it. The Pre form factor doesn't appear to be going anywhere, but clearly HP needs a slab phone to appeal to the masses.

On the contrary. It is about what I want, because I'm willing to spend money on it. It's also what you want, what ppp2 wants, what Derek wants, and so forth. If that involves a slab phone for some and keyboards for others, then I will be just as happy if HP follows both. But I personally want a phone with a physical keyboard.

I am a fan of WebOS, but that doesn't mean that I have to want what is best for HP. I want what is best for my needs, and if that is no longer WebOS, then I will change platforms. Right now, it suits me, and so does the Pre 3. I may change platforms next year or three years later.

We keyboard lovers have our opinions and they can certainly be strongly held, but we are not nearly as irritating as a group as those demanding slabs. If you'll look around at my posts on the subject, you'll find that I generally have said that I prefer a keyboard, do not want a slab, but to each his own. I think the post here is the strongest I've ever made on the subject.

There's a difference between someone wanting a particular form factor (and even really, REALLY wanting it) and the way that many people in the forums have shown their interest. While some of those who have gone so far as to "demand" a slab form factor have been able to do so politely yet firmly, many others have resorted to insults and denigration to try to make their point, and it gets tiring to read.

Yes, many of us keyboard lovers do not understand the fascination with slabs. Some of us even have experience with slabs and don't like them. As a group, though, it's my opinion that the keyboard lovers are less arrogant about their preference than those who want a slab.

if this is legit it may help hp/palm spread some love around to non-pre 'ers. however i cannot stand leekers or when people think its okay to publicize. i recognize that 'news' is your sites job, but give the company a shot! if this is true, and if they wanted it talked about, they would have said something. all about $.

a leak is typically not a bad thing, unless you're apple. some companies even plan them as part of their hype-building marketing plans. there's a good chance HP knows this is out there (if its legit) and can now sit back and watch the hype build.

I have to agree. From what I can tell from that blurry picture, it almost appears to be like a loose covering near the glass at the top right corner. If HP was smart, they probably would try to hide something that hasn't been announced, or even teased anywhere yet, hopefully to play their trump card at a later time.

To me, it looks like the screen is fractured in the upper right corner and is pushed in some which gives it that "rubbery case" look because that corner looks like it's higher than the screen - because it is. I don't see the "case" effect anywhere else on the perimeter of the screen.

Some of you must not notice the complete lack of any hardware buttons on the bottom, and the fact that the devices uses the same radius corners of the Pre series. In fact, the phone looks like a wider Pixi with no keyboard and a slight bevel in the snap on back cover. Quite frankly, I'd bet good money that Palm started with the Pixi design to get to this phone. The ear hole looks the same as well.

I would say the odds of this NOT being a webOS phone are very low. Hopefully all the slab folks will get what they want. Now we need to see an updated candy bar format phone for a true Pixi replacement.

So, Just cuz you don't see it, it's not there? Either you know way more about this phone than anyone else, or your talking out your brown third eye. You don't know it doesn't have a gesture area, it could easily be there, and probably WILL be there. It's the TABLET that doesn't have it.

So we can expect this to ship ... sometime next decade? I applaud the leak but have doubts about the timeline given HPalm's notorious difficulties actually building and shipping product. Let's face it, the Pre3 isn't even out yet.

Well, HP has said they plan on releasing six webOS products this year. The Pre 3, Veer, and Touchpad are three. Their 7-inch tablet, rumored to come out later this year, would make four. If this rumor is true, I would expect it to come out this year, plus one more device.

Exactly my point. I have been told things before by these guys that have not happened. A leaked photo does not even measure up to being told something is coming so don't get your hopes up until they announce. And then, don't believe it until it ACTUALLY happens.

There is one right below the screen. That little slit might be where the light shines. IMO, I think gesture areas will stay on phones and won't be on tablets. Just because 3.0 TouchPad doesn't have it doesn't mean gesture area isn't in the code.

the only thing that COULD entice more than the pre3 would be a keyboardless phone, and this does look pretty slick. could the reason we havent heard anything about this as to date being because they r still finishing/polishing webos 3.0 to run not only on the tab, but on this also? being that they're both keyboardless devices, could this also possibly mean that the tablet is that much closer to release if that is the case?

if this is a real telephone of HP, it seems to me that this camouflaged, is possible even to be appreciated that the frame of the screen excels over the screen, the right part superior, is possible to be seen a space between the frame and the screen, also part central inferior where the screen in which is joined would seem the transparent opening to show the LED of notifications, for my in that part also separates you camouflage. until the moment in the line of WebOs devices with them extinguished it is difficult you limit to distinguish them of the screen and this is very clearly like a gray. perhaps it is a joke or cell that does not have anything to do with WebOs.

I prefer a keyboard, but the right SPECS can change that really quickly. Bring them on...

A significantly bigger screen would also make the decision (Pre-3 vs wait for Mystery Slab) easy, but the side by side though appreciated doesn't really do much to answer the question. Why assume 480x800? Would be nice if it was bigger screen than the Pre3.

I have to say that this is definitely intriguing. Since it's still a mystery for the device and possible release, I will keep my vote with the Pre3.

"Mystery device, you seem to be new on the scene. Some of our devout WebOS fans are real interested in who you are and your background. Please, tell us a little more about your self." :-D

Normally, I would like a keyboard instead of a software solution. I can see it working for the masses though. Most people I know are moving towards the slab phones. (If that's what they are now... I still remember the term "Candy Bar." I guess that’s a bit archaic. LOL)

Mr. blurrycam is still not changing my opinion on this situation. Palm/Hp are still like an abusive Girlfriend/Boyfriend who leads you on and finally makes you a sammich... but then the sammich has no meat... and then its only half a fake sammich and then you realize it is all a dream within a dream and your still stuck with a obsolete phone. :(

Considering that we had the confirmation that the Pre3 is at least going to Verizon. The leak that this is a slab Pre is logical.

If as it has been discussed here that the Pre3 was not on Sprint at all. Then the slab model shown is more then likely what Sprint is going to get. Think of it this way the TP comes out in a few weeks. They work the kinks out with that. Then When they show the 7in model they unveil the Pre4 slab edition. Exclusive to Sprint. I think Sprint would jump on that. Let the Flame Wars.

This could be a canned device. A prototype that never even made to final stage. No one knows. I know people around here explode at the slightest glimmers of...well, anything, but none of this matters until HP relaunches WebOS successfully on the Veer, Touchpad, and Pre 3. That's what matters. If those fail, there will be no market for WebOS on any mobile form factor - even a giant slab.

As much as I would love a webOS slab, I suspect this is all bogus. Notice the curvature of the lines on the notepad paper? I suspect Photoshop trickery designed to give the screen a more concave look ala the Pre2 and Pre3.

Why is people saying that there is no gesture area on webOS 3.0? It is clear that it won't be on tablets because it is simply not ergonomic. BUT it is on phones and other small devices and I'm 100% sure that we will continue seeing the gesture area on the following webOS phones.

So we are not going to see this phone at least for a year. I am tired from waiting on the next webOS device. When Sprint releases the nexus S I'll be line. My pre (-) is falling apart, I just can't continue to wait on a Unicorn.

How you can tell this is a webOS device is that there are no distinctive markings. If this was a Android device it would have a home, menu, back, and search buttons. If it was a WP7 device it would have a back, windows, and search button. Its clearly not an idevice but if it was it would have the home square. Blackberry would be obvious so webOS is the only one left. As for a rubber case it dose not look like that to me it actually looks like black metal on the sides but if it is a webOS device it must be soft touch on the back.

DUDE... iPod touch has a square button at the bottom which is NOT present on this device! That's a WebOS lightbar at the bottom. It's there. The screen is not separated at the top, it's a reflection (i'm not talking about the blue reflection either, I'm talking about the ceiling seam that begins on the left side of the screen and continues to the right side of the screen making it look like there is a crack). There's no seam, there's no rubber case, because there's no gap.